Spiritual Growth Baby – adult

Level 4: THE LAST ELEMENT OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS
CONVICTION
Conviction is simply why you do the things you do. Without conviction you are easily swayed
by the meaningless gossip of this world that swarms around your head like gnats.
It amazes me how strongly we feel about weak issues like sports and fashion. Strong
convictions about weak matters have damaged the witness of the church, while issues of real
importance are completely ignored.
We will not become the Spiritual House required of us with such weak convictions. We are
living stones oering acceptable sacrices.
Christians need to show love without hypocrisy.
Some time ago a young sailor called his parents after his release from the military service. He
said he was bringing his buddy home to stay with him. “You see, Mom,” he said, “my friend is
pretty badly broken up. He was severely wounded and has only one leg, one arm, and one
eye.” After a little reection, the mother said grudgingly, “Of course, Son, I guess he can stay
with us a little while.” Her voice, however, carried the message that they would not like to be
burdened very long with such a severely handicapped fellow. Two days later they received a
telegram from the admiral’s oce, saying their son had plunged to his death from a hotel
window. When his body arrived for burial, his parents saw that he had only one arm, one leg,
and one eye! The memory of her last conversation with him lingered with that mother her whole
life. She often cried out, “Why didn’t I speak more carefully, more lovingly? If only I could take
back those thoughtless words ‘he can stay with us a little while.’ But it is too late now!”
That woman lived with regret because she did not show true love. If we do not have love for
others then we also will have regrets.